Impact of climate change on water crisis and conflicts: Farmers’ perceptions at the ZayandehRud Basin in Iran

Abstract

Study region

The study was conducted in the ZayandehRud Basin in Iran.

Study focus

Conflicts over water resources have increasingly occurred on different geographic scales, linked to various human activities and environmental factors, including climate change and the water crisis. This paper examines farmers’ perceptions regarding their vulnerability to climate change, the impact of climate change on the water crisis, and water crisis-induced conflicts. The research uses meteorological data and a survey with 301 randomly selected farmers

New hydrological insights for the region

Farmers confirm the significant trends and fluctuations of climatic factors by the meteorological records. Their perceptions are different within and between the upstream and downstream areas of the basin. Farmers also highlight that climate change has damaged water resources, threatened water supply, and exacerbated the water crisis. This intensifies their vulnerability, injustice, and conflicts between farmers in different sub-basins and with industry, environment, and municipal sectors. Moreover, different farmers’ perceptions regarding climate change incidence, climate change-induced water crisis, and water crisis-induced conflicts are likely to produce even greater risks of local and regional disputes among different stakeholders, unless other mechanisms for reducing water insecurity are identified and implemented. Future policies should enhance farmers’ knowledge, reduce misunderstandings and perception gaps regarding climate change and its impact on the water crisis, and manage conflicts among stakeholders and between different sub-basins through social learning platforms.